Josuke Higashikata ★ History
A detailed chronological summary of the life of Josuke Higashikata.
Early life
As a result of DIO being pierced by the Stand-creating Arrow, Josuke, possessing the Joestar Bloodline that runs in Jonathan's body, develops a Stand, but suffers a fever, not unlike that of his half-sister Holy.
He is then saved by an unknown high school student with a pompadour, who throws his coat under Josuke's mother's car in order to allow their car to plow safely through the snow. Despite never meeting him again, the student becomes Josuke's role model. Josuke imitates his pompadour hairstyle in admiration.
Diamond is Unbreakable (1999)
Meeting Jotaro
At the start of the highschool year on an April morning in the year of 1999, Josuke prepares to start his year and sees a turtle. To combat his fear of turtles, Josuke tries to approach it and is bullied by a group of delinquents. Although he accepts the bullying, one of the seniors make the mistake of deriding Josuke's hairstyle. He summons his Stand which punches the delinquent in the face. The thug's face is deformed, which frightens the group and makes them run away. Josuke is then confronted by Jotaro, the protagonist of Stardust Crusaders. The man then reveals himself to be Josuke's nephew. Josuke was, in fact, the product of an illegitimate affair between Joseph Joestar and the Japanese woman Tomoko Higashikata. Josuke did not seem surprised by the news; he informed Jotaro that he had long since accepted the circumstances of his birth. Nevertheless, he apologised to Jotaro for his birth causing trouble between Joseph and Suzi Q.
However, Jotaro makes the unfortunate mistake of insulting Josuke's hairstyle, causing him to attack Jotaro in a fit of rage. Jotaro takes note of his Stand Crazy Diamond, which possesses speed and power enough to match that of Star Platinum. He proceeds to tell Josuke about the second reason he had come to Morioh: an evil killer named Anjuro "Angelo" Katagiri is on the loose, and he possesses a Stand, to make things worse. Jotaro warns Josuke (and Koichi Hirose, who happens to be nearby) to watch out for any signs of the man. He then goes to Budogaoka where he joins the first year class 1-B along with Koichi.
Fighting Anjuro Katagiri
On his way home, Josuke witnesses a supermarket robbery. At first, Josuke is satisfied with watching the incident from afar, but the hostage taker notices a car near Josuke and yells at the teenager to stand aside, also insulting his pompadour. Furious, Josuke confronts the hostage taker. He punches through the hostage and the robber, but his power spares both, although the robber's knife is now trapped inside of his skin. It turns out the robber was under the influence of Angelo and his water-based Stand Aqua Necklace. Angered at Josuke's interference, Angelo swears to find Josuke's home and kill his family.
The next morning, Josuke prepares himself in the bathroom while calling Jotaro. He sees Aqua Necklace slipping inside of his mother Tomoko's mouth and acts. Summoning Crazy Diamond, Josuke has it punch through Tomoko, crush a bottle, then fix both to trap the enemy Stand in the bottle. Jotaro tells Jotaro and awaits his coming. When Ryohei his grandfather comes back, the policeman pranks his son with a fake gun. Josuke is distracted by the sound of a car and leaves to greet Jotaro, but Angelo craftily changes his Stand to mimic a bottle of brandy and tricks Josuke's grandfather Ryohei Higashikata into taking a drink. Ryohei dies, and even the abilities of Crazy Diamond could not revive him. Josuke decides to protect Morioh in his grandfather's place.
He and Jotaro set up camp within the Higashikata household, drinking and eating only bottled water and canned food for three days. When it begins to rain, Angelo carries his Stand in on the raindrops. Aqua Necklace infiltrates the Higashikata's house, opens the faucets and boils water to expose the heroes to as much water as possible. Josuke is ambushed by Aqua Necklace turned into a steam cloud, and cannot be caught. Despite everything, Josuke is confident. When they are cornered by the steam, Crazy Diamond punches through a wall to go to the living room and repairs the wall to block the steam. However, Josuke is ambushed by a humidifier that blows in Josuke's face. Aqua Necklace enter Josuke's body. Then, Josuke reveals that he's swallowed a shredded rubber glove earlier. He repairs the glove and spit it out, trapping the enemy Stand again.
Anjuro is uncovered and the two JoJos confront him. Katagiri tries to dissuade Josuke from killing him, claiming that it would bring him down to his level. Instead, Josuke pummel Anjuro against a nearby rock and fuses his body with the rock, trapping him forever. Jotaro uses the occasion to interrogate Anjuro about the origin of his powers. Anjuro reveals that he was shot with a Bow and Arrow by a mysterious man. When Anjuro takes a boy hostage, Josuke pummels Anjuro again, completely fusing him with the rock. The Angelo rock becomes a landmark in Morioh.
The Nijimura Brothers
One day, Josuke and Koichi notice a suspicious house on their way to school, seemingly wrecked and abandoned. When Koichi tries to peek through the door, a thug slams it shut on Koichi and a second hidden man shoots him with an Arrow. The house turns out to be the residence of the brothers Okuyasu and Keicho Nijimura, two Stand Users.
Okuyasu summons his Stand, The Hand. However, Crazy Diamond is faster and Josuke uses a distraction to punch Okuyasu out of the way to reach and heal Koichi. Okuyasu charges back, with The Hand's palm ready. Apprehensive, Josuke opts to grab The Hand's arm. It knees Crazy Diamond's stomach, forcing Josuke to stand aside as The Hand swipes the air. Josuke notices that the gates in The Hand's trajectory has been partially erased and he realizes the power of The Hand. Although Okuyasu teleports Josuke into his range, Josuke simply lets a couple of flower pots fly toward Okuyasu and hit him.
Josuke notices that Koichi has been dragged inside the house. He enters the house and confronts Keicho Nijimura. Despite Josuke's protestation, Keicho tears off the Arrow from Koichi, which spurs Josuke into running towards Keicho. Okuyasu suddenly comes in and tells Keicho to call off his attack as he wants to continue the fight. Warned, Josuke avoids an incoming attack and Okuyasu bears the brunt of it, his face pierced with dozens of hole. Keicho attacks again, forcing Josuke to break out with Okuyasu. Although he fails to obtain the nature of Keicho's Stand from Okuyasu, Josuke still heals him, stupefying the delinquent with his benevolence. As Josuke goes to the first floor, Okuyasu continues to interrogate him and, impressed by Josuke, decides to help him once. The Hand teleports Koichi from the middle of a trap to Josuke, allowing him to heal. Okuyasu then steps out of the fight.
Josuke is worried about this unknown enemy Stand. Soon, he and Koichi discover that Keicho's Stand is Bad Company, a battalion of miniature soldiers that fire in unison. Josuke and Koichi retreat to another room where they discover mini-helicopters and tanks. Josuke avoids an attack when Koichi, having become a Stand User, warns him about a tank shot. The pair is cornered by Keicho's Bad Company. Josuke throws a nail at Keicho, but Bad Company shoots it down in unison. Keicho is more interested in Koichi and decides to spare him for the moment while he disposes of Josuke. Bad Company attacks Josuke, cornering him in another room. Keicho announces his plan to bring down Josuke, and when Josuke begins to run toward it, Keicho enacts it. An onslaught of bullets blinds Josuke as he advances and a land mine damages his leg. Keicho orders his helicopters to shoot their missiles. While Crazy Diamond deflects a couple of them, the others hit its arm, disabling Josuke. Josuke finds himself surrounded and Keicho orders his Stand to shoot. However, Crazy Diamond has repaired the missiles it deflects, making them fly at Keicho. Since Bad Company is busy firing at Josuke, Keicho is hit with the missiles. Keicho is defeated and the attack is dissipated before Josuke is hit.
Josuke and Koichi then explore the house to get the Arrow. They discover Father Nijimura in the attic, now a dumb monster, which Keicho reveals is seeking to kill in order to end his suffering. However, Josuke repairs an old family photo that the father clings and reacts to, proving that the father still has sentience in him and that there may be a cure for his condition. Josuke and Okuyasu try to convince Keicho to stand down but Keicho refuses as he considers he's gone too far. However, another Stand appear, it is Red Hot Chili Pepper, a Stand of electricity. It steals the Arrow and Keicho is killed taking a blow for Okuyasu. Red Hot Chili Pepper then escapes with the Stand Bow and Arrow.
Koichi Hirose (Echoes)
One day, Josuke and Okuyasu see Koichi being hustled by another man, named Tamami Kobayashi. When Okuyasu and Koichi fall victim to Tamami's Stand, The Lock, he saves them by revealing the cat Koichi ran over was a toy and heals Tamami's tooth. Shocked, Tamami flees. Even then, he gives Koichi a fake wallet with only a the corners of Koichi's bank notes.
Surface
Hearing information from Tamami Kobayashi, Josuke and Koichi investigate a third year student from their high school, Toshikazu Hazamada who may be a Stand User. When Josuke breaks into Hazamada's locke, Hazamada's Stand Surface takes on the appearance of Josuke. Surface is smart enough to keep away from Crazy Diamond's range and is fast enough to catch projectiles. What more, Surface makes eye contact with Josuke and is now in control of his movements. Josuke is forced to violently elbow Koichi and then seemingly burst his eye with a mechanical pencil. Satisfied with Josuke collapses, Hazamada leaves to attack Jotaro. However, Koichi was healed the instant he was elbowed, allowing him to use Echoes and make the sound of an eye being gouged to trick Hazamada.
They try to call Jotaro but the line is occupied by Surface, who tells Jotaro to go to the main square. Josuke and Koichi eventually find Hazamada. Crazy Diamond throws a glass shard that Surface catches, but Josuke then repairs the glass shard, cutting off Surface's wooden hand and putting it in a bottle. Josuke and Koichi disappear. They trick Hazamada into taking a detour by mimicking the sound of a train alarm and find Jotaro first. However, Surface then takes control of Josuke from behind a window of the mall. Josuke almost stabs Jotaro in the neck but a couple of bikers that Hazamada has antagonized earlier find Hazamada and beat him up, interrupting the attack. To alleviate his frustration, Josuke also destroys the wooden body Surface was using.
In the aftermath of the battle, Josuke and Jotaro visit Hazamada to interrogate him about Red Hot Chili Pepper. Hazamada has no information but warns them that Stand Users are drawn to each other.
Yukako Yamagishi Falls in Love
One day, Josuke and Okuyasu surprise Koichi on a date with a girl named Yukako Yamagishi. Naturally, they spy on Koichi, and eventually see that Yukako is unstable and that her love for Koichi is not a good news. Seeing Yukako's strangely lively hair, Josuke remembers that Stand Users are drawn to each other.
The next day, Okuyasu saves a classmate from Yukako's wrath, who she mistook for another pretender. Josuke is now convinced that Yukako is dangerous. The trio meet next to the school's swimming pool and discuss how to best deal with Yukako. They opt to slander Koichi's reputation so that she loses interest; later that day Josuke and Okuyasu openly discuss within hearing distance of Yukako about Koichi's "crimes". However, this backfires as Yukako decides to kidnap Koichi and turn him into her ideal man.
The next morning, Josuke begins to search for Koichi. He receives a call from a payphone that Yukako stops but he manages to hear the ocean and pinpoints the location of Yukako's hideout. However, by the time they arrive, Koichi has grown and defeated Yukako on his own.
Trattoria Trussardi
One afternoon, Okuyasu and Josuke discover a new restaurant. Upon Okuyasu's insistence, the two head inside. The head chef and waiter Tonio Trussardi greets them, promising a very special Italian course to cure Okuyasu's sleep deprivation and other ailments. Josuke's suspicions grow as Okuyasu dish cause various strange phenomenons on his body, and storms into the kitchen to confront Tonio.
However, Tonio is revealed to be harmless and only crosses with Josuke for entering the kitchen without washing his hands. Once the misunderstanding is cleared up, Josuke and Okuyasu introduce themselves to Tonio as fellow Stand users. Though, Josuke is forced to clean Tonio's entire kitchen from top to bottom because he broke in without respecting proper hygiene.
Red Hot Chili Pepper
One evening, the Stand Red Hot Chili Pepper appears from Josuke's television set, looking for a fight. Red Hot Chili Pepper wishes to test how strong it has become and smugly dares Josuke to attack him. Although Crazy Diamond lands the first punch, Red Hot Chili Pepper manages to send Crazy Diamond flying with a punch and retreats to gather even more energy.
The next day, Josuke, Koichi, Okuyasu and Jotaro meet in the middle of an empty field to prevent Red Hot Chili Pepper from spying on them. Josuke thus learns that his father, Joseph Joestar, will be coming to Morioh and help root out the User. However, Red Hot Chili Pepper was hiding inside of Okuyasu's motorcycle. It learns everything and drives away on the motorcycle; Okuyasu intervenes and almost defeats the enemy Stand but is tricked into exposing a power line. Okuyasu is dragged inside the power line but Josuke saves him by restoring his body to his cut off arm.
At the harbour, while Jotaro and Okuyasu go meet Joseph on his boat to bodyguard him, Josuke encounters Red Hot Chili Pepper's user Akira Otoishi. Akira declares that he'll only need a pinky to defeat Josuke, only for Josuke to break it to shut him up. After listening to Akira's angry guitar solo, Josuke leaps to attack but suddenly finds himself facing the sea. In fact, Red Hot Chili Pepper is hiding in the gutters and has turned Josuke around. Red Hot Chili Pepper holds a momentary advantage by being able to ambush Josuke from all sides but Josuke turns the pavement into tar, allowing him to see it bubbling and landing a hit on Red Hot Chili Pepper. Akira decides to go all out and drains the town's electricity to overpower Crazy Diamond; Josuke is punched in the air and crashes against a forklift. Josuke traps Red Hot Chili Pepper inside of a tyre, isolating from its power source, and when it punches its way out, the flowing air makes the tyre fly into the ocean. Red Hot Chili Pepper is depowered and rusts, and Akira loses consciousness.
As the boat approaches, Josuke and Koichi realise too late that Akira has infiltrated the boat. Thankfully, Okuyasu neutralizes him. When Joseph disembarks, he trips but Josuke catches him. Embarrassed, Josuke tells his father to hold his hand as they walk away.
Achtung Baby
Although the town is safe, Josuke and Joseph's relationship is still awkward. Josuke tells his father that for Tomoko's sake, he will only be able to watch her from afar and should leave town immediately. Besides, Josuke tells him that he will only call him "Mr. Joestar", which saddens the old man. Lost in his thoughts, Josuke realises that Joseph has boarded a bus to Sapporo and must run after it to get Joseph. Exhausted and angry, Josuke dismisses Joseph's warnings about a presence nearby but eventually sees that there is an invisible baby.
When the baby poops on Joseph's hands, the pair is forced to buy baby gear. However, Josuke doesn't want to be seen in such a place to prevent the spread of rumors and thus lends Joseph his credit card. Josuke ends up spending more than 100,000 yen in baby gear. Later, Josuke and Joseph properly cover the baby. However, she is startled and turns herself and things around her invisible. Joseph puts the baby inside of a crib and accidentally knocks it down a hill into a pond. Josuke's resentment and contempts for his father are at their maximum as he hopelessly looks for the baby in the clear water. However, Joseph slits his wrist to add color to the water, allowing Crazy Diamond to save her. Josuke is impressed by his father's spirit.
He was upset when he found out about all the money Joseph spent on baby supplies, but was eventually reimbursed.
Visiting Rohan
One day, Josuke and Okuyasu spot Koichi entering the house of a famous mangaka named Rohan Kishibe. Suspicious because Koichi is wounded, both break into the house but Rohan's Heaven's Door allows him to transform anyone who sees his artwork into a powerless book. Okuyasu and Koichi are turned into books, only leaving Josuke. To prevent Josuke from leaving, Rohan commands Okuyasu to burn himself if Josuke leaves.
Josuke enters Rohan's office with his eyes shut and runs in his general direction. Despite receiving pen nibs in the face, Josuke doesn't open his eyes. Rohan then abundantly insults his pompadour to get at him and make him open his eyes. However, Josuke becomes literally blind with rage and is immune to Rohan's power. Crazy Diamond pummels Rohan and Josuke personally finishes the beating, sending Rohan to the hospital for a month.
The origin of Josuke's hairstyle is revealed. One day when he was ill, he had to be taken to the hospital but his mother's car was blocked in the middle of nowhere. A teenager with a pompadour helped push the car with his jacket under the wheel for better traction and saved Josuke, and to this day, Josuke takes after his savior's hairstyle.
Rat Hunting
After the Speedwagon Foundation interrogates Akira Otoishi, Jotaro learns that Akira has also turned a rat into a Stand User. Josuke is enlisted on a rat hunt. Jotaro opts to use ball bearings that their powerful close-range Stands can flick at the rat. Testing the flicking, Josuke hits one can but misses the other, and Jotaro reminds him that with a cunning animal they will only have one shot and must land it, putting pressure on Josuke.
Josuke thus tags along as Jotaro tracks the rat, sets up traps in front of its nest, and follows its trail. They enter a suspiciously quiet farmhouse. Jotaro advances further inside the house, but Josuke spots the rat in the kitchen, eating at the melted inhabitants. The rat spots Josuke as he slowly advances for a better firing angle. When Josuke crosses the limit of the rat's safe space, Crazy Diamond shoots but only hits the elbow. The rodent summons its Stand Ratt. The rat hides under a table Crazy Diamond flips over, pushing it to hide behind a chair. The rat attacks and Ratt reveals itself as a a gun-turret that fires a dart at Josuke. Knowing its effects, Josuke has Crazy Diamond deflect it with a pan while it shoots a second ball bearing. The rat is dead and Josuke is safe. However, Jotaro comes back with a melted hand and tells Josuke that there is second rat that has escaped.
Josuke and Jotaro confirm with the Speedwagon Foundation that there is only a second one that Akira omitted and thus follow the rat that they dub Bug-Eaten. They follow its trail, noting that it was smart enough to ignore the rat traps Jotaro had set up. Jotaro decides to use rifle bullets that will have a greater range. Josuke expresses his lack of confidence but when Jotaro coldly says he was expecting to do the work himself, Josuke feel slighted and reminds Jotaro of his accomplishment. Jotaro thus gives him two bullets. When Josuke and Jotaro must cross a pond, Josuke tries to hold his prized shoes and socks in his hand to preserve them. However, he is startled when Jotaro announces the presence of leeches, making Josuke drop his shoes in the water.
Josuke and Jotaro end up in the middle of a small valley and realise that they've been led into a trap. Josuke is distracted when a rat trap shuts on his hand and is hit with a dart. Thankfully, Jotaro cuts off the infected part by stopping time. Jotaro decides to slowly advance toward the general direction of Bug-Eaten to lure it out while Josuke has the arduous task of spotting and shooting it. Bug-Eaten shoots a first burst of darts which Jotaro avoids by stopping time, but Josuke loses its track. Bug-Eaten shoots a second time and this time uses rebounds to hit Jotaro even if he stops time, downing him. Josuke spots the rat but its body is protected by a rock. He shoots a first time, only to hit the rock, but this is all part of his plan. The noise makes the rat instinctively turn towards Josuke, who has now a clear shot. Crazy Diamond shoots the bullet, which pierces the rat and kills it.
A Killer in town
After Rohan Kishibe and Koichi encounter the ghost of Reimi Sugimoto and learn about a serial-killer operating in town, Josuke is warned about this killer. Josuke asks if the killer is a Stand User and Koichi answers that he's not sure, thus Josuke claims that this case is not urgent. Besides, it would be improbable for them to stumble upon the killer. Incidentally, Koichi is almost run over when he crosses the street without looking. They apologize to the driver, who happens to be the serial-killer Yoshikage Kira, having with him the hand of his latest victim.
Shigechi's Harvest
One day, Josuke notices that his bank account is nearly empty because he spent his money frivolously. Incidentally, he notices a small insectoid Stand that has retrieved a coin from under a machine and follows it. Another similar tiny Stand appears and soon Josuke finds himself following a whole group of them along with Okuyasu. The duo then see that this swarm of Stands belongs to a harmless middle schooler named Shigekiyo Yangu. Shigekiyo or "Shigechi" is using his Harvest to gather coins. Bonding with Shigechi over their shared Stand abilities, Josuke refuses the money Shigechi hands him, but devises an even more profitable plan.
Josuke tells Shigechi to look for stamps and other coupons that shops give away, notably from the Kameyu Market. Soon enough, this invincible trio gathers enough of these stamps to earn 61,000 yen. However, Shigechi then gets greedy and claims most of the money because his Harvest did all the work. Okuyasu loses his cool but Josuke reins him in because keeping their friendship with Shigechi is more profitable. When Okuyasu decides to look for discarded winning lottery tickets, Josuke and Shigechi dismiss the idea and Shigechi promises to give half of anything they could earn this way. Okuyasu then actually finds a winning lottery ticket and Josuke is overjoyed that they may win 5,000,000 yen.
The group immediately submit their tickets to a prize claim center, but the banker working here is suspicious. The banker immediately isolates them in a room under the watch of a security guard and proceeds to interrogate them. He pries the trio on the circumstances of this ticket's purchase. Josuke tries to weave his lies as best he can, pretending that his memory is hazy, but the banker reveal that the real buyer has written his name and telephone number on the back, shocking the trio. When the banker calls the buyer, Josuke uses Crazy Diamond to change the name and telephone number, creating a misunderstanding. The banker has no choice but to give away a paycheck to the trio until they can exchange it for cash.
Once again, Shigechi's greed takes over and he claims the paycheck, giving away 10,000 as a "token of friendship". Taken by anger, Okuyasu punches and insults Shigechi, and takes the paycheck. However, a truly angered Shigechi summons Harvest to snatch the paycheck. Threatening to kill them if they pursue him, Shigechi flees. Josuke and Okuyasu give chase. When Shigechi has Harvest carry him to the top of a building, Josuke and Okuyasu cooperate and use their Stands to lift each other to the top. When they try to cross pipes to another building, Harvest takes away the nuts and bolts keeping these together, but Josuke counters it by repairing the pipe with Crazy Diamond.
Josuke and Okuyasu seemingly corner Shigechi, but they notice too late that Harvest is injecting alcohol directly in their bloodstream, making them sick. Swarmed by Harvest, the duo is at a disadvantage. However, Okuyasu then pretends to give him money to earn his mercy. Shigechi is fooled and approaches Okuyasu enough for The Hand to teleport the paycheck to him. Josuke proceeds to tear it apart and scatter its pieces to the wind, causing a distressed Shigechi to send Harvest away to reclaim his money. However, that leaves him defenseless against Josuke and Okuyasu. Shigechi is knocked down and the two manage to talk sense to him. Thus the trio are friends again and fairly share the prize into thirds.
It is revealed in the I'm an Alien story arc that Tomoko then froze Josuke's bank account so that the money would be saved for his university fees.
Yoshikage Kira makes himself known
- Main article: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly (story arc)
- Main article: Sheer Heart Attack (story arc)
- Main article: Atom Heart Father (story arc)
One day, Josuke and Okuyasu decide to buy themselves a lunch outside instead of using the school's canteen. They meet Shigechi and asks him for cash, which Shigechi reluctantly agrees to lend 1,000 yen. Going to St. Gentleman's bakery, they are disappointed to see that their prized sandwiches have been sold out already. Meeting Shigechi outside, they discuss about going to another store named Hokaben but a bento plus drink each would be over their budget. Shigechi mentions that he's eating at a storage room where a teacher is storing his tea and coffee, but Josuke initially refuses to steal from a teacher. The group go on their separate ways and Josuke seems to be heading to the canteen with Okuyasu. Unbeknownst to them, Yoshikage Kira is following Shigechi to retrieve his sandwich bag, in which the severed hand of his latest victim is stored. Kira risks being exposed if the police analyzes this and tries to retrieve the bag stealthily.
Josuke and Okuyasu eventually change their mind. They buy bentos at Hakoben and join Shigechi in the storage room. Kira, who has been following Shigechi, must hide under a vaulting box. The serial-killer tries to retrieve the bag without being noticed and though he manages to take it, he's cornered inside of the box when Shigechi notices its disappearance and summons Harvest to retrieve it. However, a teacher enters the room, forcing the trio to flee.
Later, Josuke sees a disintegrating Harvest giving him a jacket button, unaware that Shigechi had a run-in with Kira and was killed. The ghost Reimi Sugimoto confirms that the mysterious killer who has been preying on the women of Morioh is responsible for Shigekiyo's death. Now that it is clear the serial-killer is a Stand User, the local Stand User population agree to be vigilant and investigate the matter if they can.
During the Yukako Yamagishi Dreams of Cinderella story arc, Josuke and Joseph meet a depressive Yukako in the streets. Although Josuke warns her not to do anything to Koichi, Joseph advises her to go see the local beautician Aya Tsuji. Later, they meet Koichi and Yukako along with a number of acquaintance that unknowingly get in the way of Yukako and Koichi's love. However, the flash of Rohan's camera startles Shizuka. Josuke and Joseph run away to calm her and bump into Koichi, who falls in Yukako's arms. Later, Koichi announces that he's kissed Yukako, which shocks Josuke so much he almost falls down the window. Koichi is worried about Yukako's then recent absence but Josuke has no reason to intervene in this personal matter.
Jotaro investigates the button Shigechi left and actually finds Kira's jacket in repair in a shoe store along with Koichi. However, Kira unleashes Killer Queen's Sheer Heart Attack. During the fight, Koichi manages to call Josuke for help and the teen rushes to the site of the battle. When he arrives, Koichi and Jotaro are grievously wounded but Josuke manages to heal them in time. Another man is present: Yoshikage Kira, who was downed by Jotaro. Kira tries to pretend to merely be a civilian caught in the battle, but Josuke notices that he's asking him to heal him, and deduces that he's the enemy Stand User. Desperate, Kira cuts off his hand and unleashes Sheer Heart Attack again. Josuke decides to restore the hand to Kira, using it as a tracker. They end up in Aya Tsuji's shop and realize that Kira has switched his face with that of one of the many commuters of Morioh. Aya is disintegrated by an explosion before she can reveal anything and in the confusion, the heroes also lose the hand. Kira has escaped.
The heroes then search Kira's house to look for a clue. In here, Josuke and Jotaro encounter the ghost of Yoshikage's father, Yoshihiro Kira. Yoshihiro traps them inside of a photography with his power Atom Heart Father and threatens to kill them. Josuke tries to rip of the photo but this only damage Jotaro and he is forced to restore it. Moreover, Koichi and Okuyasu are isolated from the photographed space. Thankfully, Jotaro neutralizes Yoshihiro by using his camera again and traps Yoshihiro into a close-up, then nails him to a column. The heroes resume their search and Josuke finds a second Arrow. However, Yoshihiro has tricked Okuyasu into releasing him and the old man steals the Arrow before flying away, tied to a crow.
Meeting an Alien
One day, Josuke and Okuyasu see a crop circle in a field on their way to school. In here, they meet the self-proclaimed alien Nu Mikitakazo Nshi. However, Nu Mikitakazo is reluctant to show proof of his origin other than his words and the duo think that Mikitaka is joking or is simply crazy, especially after he eats tissues that Josuke offers him. Disturbed, they decide to leave but are followed by Mikitaka, who then amazes them when he takes out fresh ice cream cones out of his bag. Annoyed, Okuyasu confronts Mikitaka but their dispute is interrupted when Mikitaka hears the sirens of a fire truck. Mikitaka becomes covered in blisters, turns red, and cannot bear the sound. To escape, Mikitaka suddenly shapeshifts into a pair of sneakers that make Josuke rapidly bounce up to the high school, leaving Okuyasu behind. Arriving at the roof of the building, Josuke summons Crazy Diamond to attack what he assumes to be an enemy Stand User but stops when Mikitaka clearly doesn't see his Stand. Josuke becomes convinced that he's dealing with an alien.
Mikitaka feels grateful to have been carried away from the sirens and offers Josuke a favor. Wanting money to spend, Josuke thus mischievously teaches him how to turn into dice. Later, Josuke visits Rohan Kishibe, explains him that he needs money and begs him to play cee-lo with him. Rohan agrees in order to ruin Josuke, at the condition that they play with his dice; unbeknownst to him, Josuke has already switched Rohan's dice with Mikitaka. After Rohan sets up the rules, Josuke repeats the rules so that Mikitaka understands, intriguing the mangaka. Josuke wins the first roll and Rohan flicks a die to Josuke. Mikitaka makes a noise, forcing Josuke to pretend he said something.
Josuke rolls and obtains a shocking triple 6 and obtains 6 times his wager. Josuke almost lets out that the dice are sentient but quickly weaves another lie. But then, Rohan rolls the worst possible result and has to pay double his wager. Josuke realizes that Mikitaka has no notion of subtlety and it risks exposing him. Suspicious, Rohan goes inside to take a magnifying glass and decides to examine the dice. Josuke must pretend he didn't wash his hands after going to the toilets and sneezes in Rohan's direction to dissuade the mangaka from biting into the dice and mask Mikitaka's sweat. Rohan decides to let Josuke play again, but he rolls another triple 6. Humiliated, Rohan cuts off his own pinky finger as a punishment, which shocks Josuke. Rohan declares that he will see through Josuke's trick by the next round: if he doesn't, Josuke obtains 2,000,000 yen but if Rohan uncovers the truth then he'll get Josuke's finger as payment. Worse, Tamami Kobayashi arrives. Rohan has called him to act as a debt collector and Tamami sets up The Lock on Josuke to force him to cheat. Josuke has no choice but to play.
Rohan rolls a reasonable result with the dice and Josuke is relieved to see that Mikitaka is progressing. But, when he takes the dice, Josuke notices that Mikitaka is vomiting. Worse, Josuke hears incoming sirens. He stalls his play as much as he can but must roll eventually as Mikitaka loses control. Rohan looks at the dice and almost sees their true nature, but Tamami then warns Rohan that his house is on fire, hence the sirens from the fire truck approaching. Rohan is distracted for a split second, but it allows Josuke to take the dice and hide Mikitaka while Crazy Diamond heals Rohan. Josuke doesn't lose any money but Rohan's enmity against him has tripled.
The next day, Josuke sees Mikitaka with his mother, but while Mikitata insists he's hypnotized her, the mother also mentions that Mikitaka believes he's an alien, confusing Josuke.
Highway Skirmish
One day, Josuke meets Rohan on the bus. Rohan still has a grudge and their time together is extremely awkward due to Rohan's passive aggressive attitude. Josuke prefers to stare right in front of him and ignore Rohan. In a tunnel, Rohan suddenly sees a room in the wall, with a vision of the killer inside. He tries to warn Josuke, but the teen is more focused on Rohan's grip than the window and misses the room. Out of the tunnel, Josuke doesn't believe Rohan's claims and assume he's just messing with him. Thus Rohan must explore the tunnel alone.
Josuke does come back to the tunnel and witnesses Rohan's motorcycle crashing outside without its rider. Josuke thus apprehensively enters the tunnel and sees the room with Rohan in it. Rohan warns Josuke about an enemy Stand thus Josuke steps inside to fight it. The enemy Stand Highway Star appears to suck his lifeforce but Rohan saves Josuke by making him fly at 70 kmph out of the tunnel and advises him to find the User. Josuke takes Rohan's motorcycle and must both flee from Highway Star while tracking its user.
After driving for some time, Josuke deems that he's gained enough distance to use a payphone and call Koichi for help, but Highway Star suddenly teleports behind him and forces him to leave. During the chase, he manages to safely pass above a mother and her baby by breaking his motorcycle and repair it midair. Josuke then snatches a mobile phone to call Koichi's home. Koichi answers the call and during their discussion they manage to deduce that the user is probably a biker who had a recent accident in the tunnel. Josuke suddenly notices that he's at the harbor and that the way is blocked by the ocean. Forced to stop, Josuke creates a wall with the pavement to stall Highway Star and eventually finds a way back toward the city in the drainage pipes. When the motorcycle's fuel tank empties, Josuke manages to trap Highway Star in a car while he extracts the gas from the car tank and heads towards the hospital.
When Josuke arrives at the hospital, Koichi is here and tells him to find Yuya Fungami in room 525. Josuke crashes into an elevator, and manages to go up to the fifth floor thanks to Echoes weighting on some of Highway Star's parts. However, the enemy Stand catches him just as he enters Yuya's room. Josuke's lifeforce is drained, but he manages to steal some of Yuya's IV, to gain some strength. At close-range, Crazy Diamond proves that Highway Star is no match for its speed and strength. When Yuya pleads for mercy and argues that it would be despicable to attack a crippled man, Josuke heals him completely, just to make it a "fair fight", and pummels Yuya through the window. He later dissuades Yuya from misusing his Stand to heal himself.
The Man on the Tower
One day, Josuke, Okuyasu and Mikitaka discover a disconnected electric tower in which lives Toyohiro Kanedaichi, a man who lives inside the tower. Suspicious but impressed, Josuke and Okuyasu slowly approach the tower to have a closer look to Toyohiro's house. They discover how Toyohiro manages to be completely autonomous in his tower. However, Josuke sees a photography slip from Toyohiro's pocket. Curious, Josuke approaches the tower despite Toyohiro's warnings, and see that it is Yoshihiro Kira. Josuke enters the tower's boundaries at which point Toyohiro reveals that it was what he wanted from the beginning. As he pursues Yoshihiro, Josuke realises that he's trapped inside of the tower. The tower is a Stand named Super Fly that traps one person at a time inside of it. Unfazed, Josuke and Okuyasu decide to topple the tower by pummeling one of its legs, but it resists the attack and even reflects it back at Josuke and Okuyasu. Okuyasu is wounded and cannot fight anymore.
Mikitaka decides to help. When Toyohiro decides to slide down one of the cables, Mikitaka merges with it and cuts it, swinging the two of them inside of the Super Fly's boundaries and allowing Josuke to exit. However, Toyohiro wounds Mikitaka and nails it into the tower's frame with screws. Josuke thus steps back in to help his friend and fight Toyohiro. However, Toyohiro is much more agile that Josuke and easily stays out of Crazy Diamond's range. Moreover, Toyohiro is able to damage the tower the way he needs to have the reflect energy target Josuke, even if Crazy Diamond deflects some of them. Hit from all sides, Josuke slips and up and only holds to the tower by one hand. However, the attacks Crazy Diamond had deflected were restored, meaning the energy is now flowing backward toward its original point. Toyohiro, who was leaning to better see Josuke's demise, is hit because he isn't in a safe spot anymore. Josuke's grip fails and he falls, but Toyohiro tells Josuke how to be hit back towards the frame of the tower.
Having changed his mind, Toyohiro apologizes to the heroes and decides to stay in his tower. He also informs them that another Stand User has attacked Koichi.
Enigma
Josuke enlists the help of Yuya in order to investigate how Koichi disappeared. Yuya is reluctant at first but when Josuke easily accepts his refusal to help, Yuya reveals that he actually wants to be healed. Josuke reveals that he actually did it already, pleasing Yuya who incidentally sees his fangirls visiting him and deduces what they were up to thanks to his sense of smell. Josuke himself is impressed.
Yuya leads Josuke to Koichi's bag in a square, where Yuya warns him about the enemy, Terunosuke Miyamoto. Josuke tries to grab Miyamoto but he suddenly disappears and leaves in his place an unconscious Tomoko. Shocked to see his mother, Josuke nervously asks Yuya to indicate him where Miyamoto is hiding. Yuya smells something in Tomoko's pockets and Josuke finds a folded piece of paper which he opens, only for a gun to shoot at him. Thankfully Crazy Diamond catches the bullet but Josuke is unnerved by Miyamoto's ability, Enigma. However, Miyamoto wants Josuke to clearly show his fear tell (biting his lips) to seal him inside of a paper. He thus reveals himself and explains how ripping a paper will damage whatever or whoever is inside. When Miyamoto tosses a paper he claims to be Koichi on the path of a car. Josuke bites his lips and tries to save the paper, allowing Enigma to seal him in paper.
But, Josuke manages to temporarily drag himself out, declaring that he had to take the risk and be sure to save his friend, and that Miyamoto'd better kill him now or Josuke will do it instead. Josuke's words inspire Yuya to step in and fight to free Josuke, which he manages to. Koichi immobilizes Miyamoto when he tries to use Yuya, the turned into a paper, hostage. Then Josuke's Crazy Diamond pummels him into a shredder and turns the Stand User into a book. Josuke then donates the book to a library.
Showdown with Kira
- Main article: Another One Bites the Dust (story arc)
- Main article: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable (story arc)
Rohan manages to discover a serious lead after noticing the young Hayato Kawajiri suspiciously spying on his father Kosaku. The group organizes a meeting in order to interrogate Hayato together, but Josuke and Okuyasu arrive late. Unbeknownst to them, Yoshikage Kira's Killer Queen has developed a new ability called "Bites the Dust" that has turned Hayato into the carrier of a bomb aimed at anyone who will interrogate the boy about Kira and will loop time. During one of the time loops, Josuke is killed by Bites the Dust as Killer Queen enters his eyes and detonates him from the inside.
However, Hayato eventually calls his house to wake him up early and sets up events so that Kira will publicly say his name in front of Josuke. Josuke hears Kira and immediately attacks the man in front of him, as he can simply heal him afterwards if he's wrong. Kira is thus forced to recall Killer Queen to his side and cancel Bites the Dust.
A fight ensues between Kira, Josuke and Okuyasu. A quick fistfight between Crazy Diamond and Killer Queen ends up in Josuke's favor and Kira is downed. Kira then does something suspicious, and Okuyasu teleports him in his direction with The Hand to protect Josuke. However, Okuyasu's side then explodes and it is revealed that Killer Queen has stored Stray Cat in its belly, allowing it to create deadly invisible air bombs. Josuke tries to protect himself by building walls with restored concrete but is wounded as Kira shows that his bombs do not automatically explode on contact. Even if Josuke cuts the bubbles as Crazy Diamond throws his blood like a high pressure blade, the bubbles are preserved. However, Josuke manages to run to Kira as he deduces that the air bombs have a minimal safety range. Kira steps aside, allowing Josuke to reach Okuyasu but Hayato warns him that Okuyasu may have been turned into a bomb. Kira tries to bluff Josuke into touching Okuyasu but Hayato does it instead, triggering the blast. Josuke is able to heal Hayato and Okuyasu but Okuyasu doesn't wake up. Refusing to believe Okuyasu is dead, Josuke still carries him as the heroes retreat inside of a house.
Inside, Josuke and Hayato prepare themselves for Kira's attack. However, Hayato notices that Kira is using air bombs that seem to automatically follow Josuke. Unsatisfied with fleeing, Josuke breaks a vase and throws a shard at Kira, which manages to hit Kira in the shoulder because of Crazy Diamond has restored the blood on the shard toward Josuke's blood on Kira's suit. At the same time, the air bomb explodes and Josuke is heavily wounded. Josuke then asks Hayato to drag him to the window where he sees Kira holding his mobile phone and understands his trick. When Kira sends another bomb, Josuke also throws a second glass heart. Josuke then uncovers Yoshihiro and takes his phone. By whispering, Josuke tricks Kira into eliminating his own father. Plus, his own projectile hits Kira.
Josuke gets out of the house and gains the advantage during the second Stand fistfight. However, Stray Cat conjures bubble that cushion Crazy Diamond's punches. Kira is able to send another air bomb at Josuke who is too weakened to move. Thankfully, Okuyasu appears and erases the air bomb with The Hand. Josuke is overjoyed to see his best friend back to life. Too weakened, Josuke witnesses Kira's last moments as Jotaro and Koichi defeat him, then as an ambulance runs over the serial-killer.
Kira is surrounded and wounded but still determined. When a doctor approaches him, Kira almost activates his time loop, however, Koichi and Jotaro manage to take him down, and Kira is accidentally run over by an ambulance.
Josuke is present to see Reimi ascend to heaven, wishing her to take care despite her status.
Farewell to the Golden Heart
Now that Morioh is safe from evil Stand users, Jotaro and Joseph depart from the town, and Josuke sees them off, saluting them on last time. Josuke, however, manages to steal Joseph's wallet as his allowance for all these years.
(The information below derives from the TV Anime. As such, it may or may not be considered canon.)
He is last seen talking with Okuyasu and Koichi about a rumor the former heard and decided to go investigate that rumor.
The Book: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 4th Another Day
Josuke helps the stand users of Morioh to find the killer of Hanae Orikasa. During the investigation, Josuke's mother is injured, leading Josuke to confront Takuma Hasumi, the killer. Takuma finds out that Josuke was saved by a student with a pompadour in his past and tries to use it against him, but this just upsets Josuke more. Even retaining serious injuries from The Book, Josuke manages to defeat Takuma, who ends up falling from the roof of the library against Josuke's will.
Rohan at the Louvre
Josuke makes a nonspeaking cameo in this one-shot. He heard Rohan's story about Nanase Kishibe with Koichi and Okuyasu before the mangaka decided to investigate Nizaemon Yamamura's painting "Under the Moon".
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan (OVA)
Josuke makes a cameo appearance in the ending when Rohan talks to Koichi and Okuyasu. Only the back of his head and torso are visible in the shot, however.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Over Heaven
Josuke is mentioned in the Author's Note, and is said to have collaborated with the translator to restore DIO's Diary for the Speedwagon Foundation in an attempt to locate a means by which to awaken Jotaro from his coma during the events of Stone Ocean.
Major Battles
- Josuke & Jotaro vs Anjuro Katagiri[1]
- Josuke vs Okuyasu Nijimura[2]
- Josuke & Koichi vs Keicho Nijimura[3]
- Josuke & Koichi vs Toshikazu Hazamada[4]
- Josuke vs Akira Otoishi[5]
- Josuke vs Rohan Kishibe[6]
- Josuke vs Bug-Eaten[7]
- Josuke & Okuyasu vs Shigekiyo Yangu[8]
- Josuke vs Yuya Fungami[9]
- Josuke vs Toyohiro Kanedaichi[10]
- Josuke vs Terunosuke Miyamoto[11]
- Josuke & Okuyasu vs Yoshikage Kira[12]
References
- ↑ Chapter 271: Josuke Higashikata! Meets Angelo, Part 3
- ↑ Chapter 274: The Nijimura Brothers, Part 1
- ↑ Chapter 277: The Nijimura Brothers, Part 4
- ↑ Chapter 290: Toshikazu Hazamada (Surface), Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 307: Red Hot Chili Pepper, Part 1
- ↑ Chapter 323: Let's Go to the Manga Artist's House, Part 6
- ↑ Chapter 326: Let's Go Hunting!, Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 336: Shigechi's Harvest, Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 386: Highway Star, Part 3
- ↑ Chapter 399: Let's Live on a Transmission Tower, Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 404: Enigma Boy, Part 1
- ↑ Chapter 426: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 9
